Dr Keith Chappell MTh, PhD, DPhil

Dr Keith Chappell

Department of Theology and Religion
Honorary Fellow, Edward Cadbury Centre

Contact details

I am a qualitative sociologist of religion and biologist with a special interest in conflict resolution and religion.  My research interests include science and religion, family conflict and community conflict resolution.

Qualifications

  • DPhil – theology/sociology of religion, University of Oxford
  • MTh – applied theology, University of Oxford
  • PhD – environmental microbiology, University of Hull
  • BSc – marine biology, University of Wales
  • BA – divinity, Pontifical University Maynooth

Biography

I currently teach and research theology and the study of religion in a Catholic context but my professional life has been marked by working on boundaries.  Having initially trained as a biologist and taught biology for some years at various universities I engaged in some further study in theology and then the sociology of religion.  Since then, my research interests have included science and religion in education, marine pollution and the ethnographic study of religious groups in transition in England and Northern Ireland.  I am also a trained mediator and for nearly two decades I have worked with communities, families and religious groups to seek conflict resolution. 

Research

  • Science and religion, particularly in relation to changing narratives for young people and educational policy
  • Conflict resolution and religion as a factor in conflict
  • Impact of child sex abuse on congregations
  • Catholic social thought

Other activities

  • Member of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference Committee on Marriage and Family Life
  • Research Fellow at Canterbury Christ Church University

Publications

Peer reviewed Journals

  • Chappell, K.  Comedy and Tragedy in Mediation.  Submitted for review to Mediation Theory and Practice. 
  • Chappell, K.  Breaking the cycle: interrupting the perpetuation of erroneous ideas about the nature of science in the educational system.  School Science Review.  December 2017, 99 (367), pp 19-25.
  • Chappell, K. and Davis, F. (Eds) Special Edition of International Journal of Public Theology,  proceedings of Renewing the Catholic Social Conscience conference, Oxford, March 2010.  Published Sept 2011. Volume 5, Issue 3.
  • Chappell, K.  Preparing for Marriage: Sign, Symbol and Sacrament.  INTAMS Review.  Vol. 15/1 - Spring 2009, pp 23-29.

Books/Monographs

  • Chappell, K.  The Catholic Charismatic renewal in the UK: Worldview and the End Times. London: Routledge (Due Autumn 2021)
  • Chappell, K., Reiss, M. and Billingsley, B (Eds).  Science Religion and Education. New York, Springer, 2019.
  • Chappell, K., Billingsley, B. and Abedin, M. (Eds).  A Teacher’s Guide to Science and Religion in the Classroom.  London: Routledge, 2018.
  • Chappell, K. and Davis, F. (Eds) Catholic Social Conscience.  Leominster: Gracewing, 2011.
  • Chappell, K.  The Role of the Christian Father.  London: CTS, 2008.
  • Chappell, K. The Role of Christian Grandparents.  London: CTS, 2010.

Book Chapters

  • Chappell, K., Billingsley, B., Abedin, M. and Hatcher, C. ‘Learning about evolution in a cross-curricular session: findings from a small-scale intervention study with primary school teachers pre-services’.  In: Evolution Education. Reiss, M (Ed), New York, Springer. (2019).
  • Chappell, K.  ‘Miracles’  In: A Teachers Guide to Science and Religion in the Classroom.  Chappell, K., Billingsley, B. and Abedin, M.  London: Routledge, 2018.  pp.94-104.
  • Chappell, K. ‘Evolution and Religion: Mary Anning -embracing faith and science’.  In: A Teachers Guide to Science and Religion in the Classroom.  Chappell, K., Billingsley, B. and Abedin, M.  London: Routledge, 2018.  pp.159-166.
  • Chappell, K.  ‘An ecologist’s perspective on Laudato si’ ’ .  In:  Reflections on Pope Francis’s Encyclical Laudato si’.  Mills, M.,  Orr, J. and Schnitker, H.  (Eds).  Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017.
  • Chappell, K., Billingsley, B., Nassaji, M. and Costa, A.  ‘What do Teenagers Believe about the Soul? Findings from a Survey  and Interview Study with Upper Secondary School Students’ In: Forty Years of Science and Religion: Looking Back, Looking Forward. Spurway, N and Hickman, L. (Eds.)  Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2016.
  • Chappell, K.  ‘Catholic Charismatics and Restorationism in the UK.’  In:  The Wisdom of the Spirit.  Percy, M and Ward, P. (Eds)  London: Routledge, 2014
  • Chappell, K.  ‘Rehabilitating Personalism’  In: Catholic Social Conscience. Chappell, K. and Davis, F. (Eds),  Leominster: Gracewing, 2011
  • Chappell, K. and Davis, F. ‘From Best Kept Secret to Social Norm? The Catholic Social Conscience.’  In: Catholic Social Conscience. Chappell, K. and Davis, F. (Eds),  Leominster: Gracewing, 2011

Other Journals/Papers                                                                                                       

  • A future for Marriage Care.  Catholic Times, April 2012.
  • Catholic Charismatics and Social Justice.  Good News, Feb 2012.
  • Preparing for Marriage.  The Universe. April 2009
  • A Papal Reckoning for the Irish Bishops.  The Guardian.  22nd January 2010
  • Marriage Preparation. The Tablet.  February 14th 2010.
  • Contributing writer for spirituality of stewardship materials published by Diocese of Portsmouth (XXIII Publications in US) from 2010 – 2013.

Book Reviews

  • I Didn’t Divorce My Kids.  INTAMS Review, Spring 2011
  • Equality and the Family.  INTAMS Review, Spring 2011
  • The Vocation of the Child.  INTAMS Review, Autumn 2012
  • Love: A Sketch.  INTAMS Review, Spring 2013

Conference Papers

  • Chappell, K. Family Mediation – A Praxis in Search of a Theology?  INTAMS Conference “Troubled Love”, Leuven, April 2018.
  • Chappell, K., Billingsley, B., Abedin, M. and Hatcher, C.  Learning about evolution in a cross-curricular session: findings from a small-scale intervention study with primary school teachers pre-services.  Symposium on Evolution Education.  Kiel, Germany.  September 2017.
  • Chappell, K. and Billingsley, B.  Character Education, simply a new fashion or an opportunity to engage with the big questions of science and religion across the school curriculum?  LASAR Conference, Oxford.  November 2016.
  • Chappell, K. and Knapp, Z.  Nature vs nurture: workshops for teenagers to critique scientific determinism and other perspectives on personality and behaviour.  LASAR Conference, Oxford.  November, 2016.
  • Chappell, K. and Billingsley, B.  The Role of RE and other curriculum areas in ‘Character Education’.  NATRE Conference, Blackburn.  October 2016.
  • Chappell, K. and Pipkin, M.  Science and Religion – New Ways of Thinking.  REInspired Conference, Reading.  October 2016.
  • Chappell, K.  Breaking the Cycle.  Epistemic Insight Symposium.  Somerville College, Oxford.  September 2016.
  • Chappell, K., Billingsley, B., and Costa, A.  All in Your Genes? Research-Based Interventions to Teach Secondary Students About Science, Personality and Behaviour.  TEAN Conference, Birmingham. May 2016.
  • Chappell, K., Callaghan, A., Ellis, R. and Aljabaichi, R.  The role of feeding behaviour in the uptake of microplastics in two aquatic crustaceans: Gammarus locusta (Amphipoda) and Daphnia magna (Cladocera).  SETAC, Barcelona.  June 2015.